Southmead Hospital has confirmed no foxes have been harmed or killed after concerns the animals would be culled at the site.

The Bristol Post revealed last month a pest control company had been called to deal with foxes which had made their home under the windows of the maternity unit at the hospital.

But action to prevent the foxes entering the building was halted over public concerns the foxes would be killed.

Campaigners at Animal Aid wrote to hospital bosses urging them to consider humane methods.

Animal Aid Campaigner, Tod Bradbury said: “We are delighted that Southmead Hospital has confirmed that no foxes will be killed on site, and that they are seeking advice from humane deterrence service Fox-A-Gon.

“Culling foxes usually involves trapping and shooting them – which is not only cruel, but an ineffective way of resolving conflicts with urban foxes. If a fox - or indeed a family of foxes - is killed, new foxes will quickly take over the vacant territory. As such the government recommends the use of non-lethal methods of deterrence instead.

“We thank Southmead Hospital for making the compassionate and sensible decision, and we hope that they can serve as a positive example for other hospitals, companies, or individuals in similar situations.”

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“We understand that the foxes on our site provide a pleasure to some patients and visitors and we have lived in harmony with them for many years. We hope to find a way of continuing to do so, while also ensuring we do what is in the interest of all our patients.”

The letter adds that concerns were raised by senior nursing staff because of a particular fox near the maternity unit.

Staff at Southmead have now been in contact with Fox-A-Gon who have given advice on the best way of dealing with the foxes.

They are also in touched with Secret World Wildlife Garden Rescue in Somerset who have given advice on a fox that appears to be unwell.

Staff have been urged not to feed the foxes on site as this can add to the problem.